Split peach pitter



DeC- 3, 1935- A, R. THOMPSONZ SPLIT PEACH PITTER Filed Jan. 23, 1935 2 sheets-sheet;

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Dec. 3,V 1935. A. R. THOMPSON SPLIT PEACH PITTER Filed Jan. 28, 1933 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES SPLIT PEACH PITTER Albert R. Thompson, San Jose, Calif., assignmto Pacific Machinery Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 28, 1933, Serial No. 654,001

7 Claims.

This invention relates to split peach pitters, and more particularly'to a device adapted for the removing of pits from split or halved peaches. This application is a continuation in part of the application heretofore led by me for a' machine for pitting split fruits, Serial No. 103,760, filed April 22, 1926, and renewed January 8, 1932.

As disclosed in my co-pending application, the split pitter embodying my invention includes an oriflced member which is adapted to contact the cut surface ofthe pit of the fruit in a substantially horizontal position so that the operator of the machine may at all times see the position of the split or halved fruit with relation to the pitting knife to enable the operator to shift or adjust the position of the split or halved fruit with relation to the pitting knife to enable the pitting knife to pass freely around the pit of the fruit.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of and apparatus for the pittingv of bisected peaches wherein the exposed surface of the bisected peach is contacted against a positioning surface with relation to ai pitting knife so that the halved or bisected peach is manually held in position with relation to the positioning means under pressure to maintain the bisected or halved peach in position and so that during such positioning of the halved peach, pitting means may be operated to remove the pit from the flesh of the fruit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine or device for the removing of pits from previously split fruit consisting of a support which permits at all times visibility of the pit of the split fruit by the operator, and in which device there is provided a curved pitting knife which is carried by the supporting means and is adapted to swing beneath the support to cut the pit from the peach, and in which there is likewise provided means to assist the operatork in positioning the pit with relation to the pitting knife, and means for manually rotating the pitting knife.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for the pitting of split peaches which consists of a substantially horizontal support against which a half peach may be pressed with its cut surface uppermost and which supporting means carries a curved pitting knife mounted with relation to an opening formed in the supporting means so that the operator is aided by the visibility provided through the opening in the support in the positioning of the pit of the half 'fruit with relation to the pitting knife, and in which there is provided means for manually rotatingthe pitting knife to cut the pit from the flesh of the fruit so that should the pitting means hang up upon the pit of the fruit, the vpitting'operation may be discontinued and the half of the fruit relocated with reference to v the pit of the fruit, andthe pitting operation may then be continued to sever the pit of the fruit from `the flesh thereof without fracturing or breaking the pitting knife.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide a machine for removing the pits from split fruit which includes a support which is adapted to contact the cut; surface of the halved 0r split fruit with the cut or halved surface of the split 15 fruit uppermost, a rotary pitting knife mounted with relation to the supporting means, and means for manually rotating the pitting knife through the flesh ofthe fruit to remove the pit therefrom while so supported, anda resilient means for re- 20 turning the knife to the normal or starting position. -1

Another object of this invention is to provide in a peach pitting apparatus a means against which the cut surface of the flesh of the fruit 25 is manually placed with the cut side up to permit visibility and locating of the pit ofthe fruit with relation to a pitting knife carried with relation to'said support, and in which pitting machine there is provided an adjustable means 30 fixed in position when adjusted to assist the operator in positioning the pit of the fruit with relation to the pitting knife, and in which machine the pitting knife is of substantially semi-circular form mounted for `rotation with its axis in the 35 plane of the cut surface ofthe peach to be pitted, and a means whereby the operator may physically rotate the knife to pass the same through the pit of the fruit to remove the pit therefrom, which means permits of discontinued operation 40 of the pitting member in the event the pitting knife hangs up on the pit of the fruit, so that `the operator may relocate the half peach and pit with relation tothe pitting knife.

Other objects and advantages of this invention 45 it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

. In the drawings: 5o

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the peach pitting device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the pitting method embodying my invention and il- 55 per surface of the plate :3.

pitting plate 3. The plate 3 is pivotally supported on a pivot 6 which passes through and is pivotally mounted within supporting skirts :I which project upwardly from the baseA I, thuspermit-l ting the pitting plate 3 to be swung upwardly away from the cup or support 2 its cut or halved surface uppermost.

The pitting knife'5 -is a curved pitting knife curved approximately tothe contourof the `pitof the fruit to be pitted and has oppositelyextending Shanks 8 whichf -pivotallylsupport the, knife 5 within bearing'members Sfmounted on the up.- Secured Ato the end of the Shanks 8 of the knife 5 arel'pinions I0 vmeshing with gear segments-II forV rotation ,fof the knife 5 when the segments AHaare moved relative to the plate 3. Thegear segments; II1are secured to rarms -I 2l whichextend rearwardly and are secured to the pivotup'onwhich thefplate 3 is pivotally supported. -i i Y In the operation of positioning the half of fruit within the support or cup 2, the plate 3 and gear segments II are moved as a unit awayfromthe cup 2 and in lowering the plate 3 until the lower surface of this plate contacts with the. cut surface of the fruit, the gear segments'I Ifiare held so that they do not move relatively to theA pinions II) until after the plate 3A has contacted the-cut surface of the fruit and has been pressed downwardly against this surface. Inv order toiaccomplish this operation, the rearwardly portion of the plate 3 is provided with an upstanding ear I3 which carriesr on a pivot Il a swivel-connecting block I5.l One of thearms AI2-is provided with an inwardly extending bracket I6 and a connecting bolt I1 extends tliroug'lrthek bracket :IIand through the pivoted connecting block vfI5' and a spring I8 is mounted upon the connecting boltl I1 between washers I9 and 20. The washenls is held in position by means of a nut 2| threaded to the free end of the'bolt I1. The washer 20 is held in position by means of a cylindrical. sleeve 22 which engages one fiat surface' 'of theconnecting block I5. In this manner the plate 3 and the arms I2 of the gear segments `II are `yieldably contacted the cut surface of the half fruit and the operating handle 23 which is-connected to oneof the gear segments II is further depressed, the

gear segments II are moved' with relation to-,the

ypinions I0 to cause the pinions I0 torotate and hence to rotatethe pitting knifei5'.-

The spnng ls'nkewisefprovides-smears for returning they pitting knife 5`to1its'postion normallyin the plane of the pitting blade3 on release of the actuating handle 23. i

In order to eject the half fruit after the pit has been severed from theiiesh thereof from-the support or holding cup 2, there' is secured to the-pivot :y ,A y ;.pitti rligv knife should .the same' tend'to hang rup on the pitof the fruit. l

pin 6 an arm24 which,v on elevation KAofthe `plate 21. The shank of the fork 21 is secured t0 a Sleeve so that `the halfy of the fruit may be positioned in the cup withy so4 that the 2,023,037 y i' l" 28 which is pivoted on a pivot 29 carried by the frame I. Secured to the sleeve 2B is the ejector arm 30, the end of which extends upwardly through an opening 3I formed in the lower end of the support or cup 2 so that on raising of the ejector 30, the half of fruit is raised up above the support 2 or ejected therefrom.

The operation of the fruit pitter embodying my invention is that fruit previously halved by any suitable or desirable means is placed in a cup 2 with its cut surface uppermost. 'I'he handle 23 isv grippedV `by the operator to lower the plate 3 into contact with the cut surface of the fruit.

' During; this operation'the operator observes the positlgn `of the pit `of the fruit with relation to the pitting knife 5. l

j Ifthepitis notforrectly located with respect tothe pitting knife 5, the plate 3 may be elevated toi/permit the operator with his other hand to shift theposition ofthe half fruit in the cup 2 l y y knifel will pass freely around the pitof the fruit and not hang up on the pit. In the event the operator do'es not correctly locate thepitpf the fruit withrelation to the pitting knife ,Sand pulls downwardly'on the handle 23 to rotate the pitting knife and the pitting knife hangs ,up on a portion or',fragment of the pit, the operator stops the operation of the pitting knife andg by raising upwardly thereon, relocates the position of the halrfruitandby observation and 30 a processof'more or lessjeeling, causes the knife tof pass around they pitV ofthe fruit without damage to .the knife or wlthout cutting a portion of the pit ofthefruit fromthe pit to remain vin the pitted-halfof thefrjuitj-` The process of observa- .tionhandfrelocation as thusi:le'scribed is an important partzof my invention and as the operation is carried out manually, a skilled' operator soon becomes very rapid intheoperation of the pitting structure :embodying myinvention and operates Ethemachinevwithout-damage to the pitting knife 5 or .without mutilating the halves of the fruit dueto the fact thatkoperation is at all times under observation'and under .the manual control of the operator.,

tions as the pitting knife 5 moves ,downwardly "from theopening inthe plate 3 to` pass around the pitiof the fruit. The cup or support 2, or

` the edges thereof', form stops for lthe preliminary location of the yhalf .of thefruitrelative to the pittingknife 5.l i v;

*f InFigure 3 I have ydiagrammatically illustrated the relation of thefpttingl knife,5, plate, 3, and a connected together so that whenthe plate 3 has halt of apeach in `ic'ontact-with ,the plate andin `position so that-thev pit rP ofthe fruit may be cut 'from the'fhalf will beobserved that the operator having visibility of the position of thetpit P through the opening in the plate 3 I knife 5,' may'man v'ally shift'or adjust the relationofthe fruit. wFrom Lthis figure it with relation to the curved'pitting ship ofthe pitP Y'ofthefruitto thelmife 5 at any 'ftirne duringwthe manual operation*oi! the apparatus embodying my invention to avoid mutilation Eto the'half'of thejfruit, thesevering of a portion :of lthe'pit` with the operation of cutting the pit from the fruit, and'to avoid mutilation of the understood that I'd'o not'wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for removing the pits from split fruits comprising a base, a receptacle adapted to hold the fruit centered, a pivoted plate connected to the base to bear upon the fruit placed in said receptacle, a pivotally supported knife carried thereby, and an operating handle adapted to hold the plate against the fruit, and means to rotate said knife substantially 180 degrees to cut the core or pit from the fruit.

2. A machine for pitting split fruits comprising a base, a receptacle adapted to hold the fruit centered thereon, a plate pivotally mounted on the base to bear upon the top of the fruit to hold the same in a given position, a, semi-circular knife pivotally mounted on said plate, and means at each end of said knife to rotate it substantially 180 degrees whereby a substantially-semi-spherical portion is removed from the fruit with the pit.

3. A machine for removing the pits or cores from split fruits comprising an adjustable receptacle adapted to hold the fruit centered, a plate pivoted on said base to bear upon the flat surface of the fruit when placed in the centering device, a knife carried by said at plate having gears at opposite ends and having a substantially semicircular knife, andkmeans at both ends of the knife to turn it substantially 180 degrees.

4. A machine of the class described, comprising a base, a pair of fruit holding receptacles adjustably mounted thereon whereby a split fruit may be encircled and centered, a plate pivotally mounted on said base to bear upon. the flat side of said fruit, a semi-circular knife and trunnions extending through said flat plate, an operating handle, and means whereby upon the operation of the handle the semi-circular knife will be turned substantially 180 degrees to core a fruit placed upon said receptacle.

5. A machine for pitting split fruits comprising an adjustable fruit receptacle adapted to hold the fruit centered, a plate pivotally mounted upon 5 the receptacle base to bear upon the fiat surface of the fruit to aid in holding it centered, a handle pivotally mounted on the base, a handle lmounted upon the same pivot, a spring interposed between the handle and said plate, a seml-circular knife having trunnions extending through said plate, means at the opposite ends of said knife whereby it may be rotated, and segment gears carried by thevhandles for engaging the knife pinions and rotating them. y

6. In a machine for pitting clingstone peaches, the combination of a cup supported with its concavty facing upwardly whereby it is adapted to receive a half peach with the plane surface thereof turned up, an apertured member movably mounted above said cup, a pitting means mounted on the apertured member to operate through said aperture, means for moving said apertured member downwardly to contact the plane surface of the half peach with the aperture in alignment with the pit, and means for actuating the pitting means while the apertured member is held in contact with the peach.

7. In a clingstone peach pitter, the combination of a fixed holder into which a halved peach is paced face up, an apertured surface plate movably mounted adjacent thereto for resilient engagement with the face of the peach, means for producing movement of the plate to first contact the piane surface of the halved fruit withv the plate with the aperture in registry with the half peach pit, and means carried by the plate for severing the half pit from the peach half.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

